The Paris 2024 Paralympics is poised for a grand closure this coming Monday at midnight IST, wherein Indian archer Harvinder Singh and sprinter Preeti Pal have been designated as the nation’s flag-bearers for the closing ceremony. Both athletes have made their mark in the French capital, contributing to India’s historic achievements at these Games, where the country has amassed a record 26 medals thus far, with prospects for additional accolades still remaining.

Harvinder Singh, at 33 years of age, has etched his name in the annals of sports history by becoming the first Indian archer to claim a gold medal at the Paralympics. He achieved this remarkable feat by dominating Poland’s Lukasz Ciszek with a score of 6-0 in the men’s individual recurve final. This accomplishment follows his impressive bronze medal performance in the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, where he secured India’s inaugural archery medal in the event. In reflecting on his victory, Harvinder stated, “Winning gold for India has been a dream come true, and now leading our nation as a flag-bearer at the closing ceremony is the highest honour I could imagine. This victory is for everyone who believed in me, and I hope to inspire many more to pursue their dreams.”

On the other hand, 23-year-old Preeti Pal has achieved a historic milestone herself by securing bronze medals in both the women’s 100m and 200m races in the T35 classification at Paris 2024, thereby becoming the first Indian athlete to earn a track medal at the Paralympics. Notably, Preeti also achieved personal bests of 14.21 seconds in the 100m and 30.01 seconds in the 200m, which propelled her to the podium at the esteemed Stade de France. She remarked, “It is a great honour to represent India as a flag-bearer. This moment is not just about me; it’s about every para-athlete who has pushed their limits to make our nation proud.”

In previous ceremonies, Indian track and field athletes Sumit Antil and Bhagyashri Jadhav served as flag-bearers during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympics, while Avani Lekhara had the honor of leading the Indian delegation at the closing ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics after defending her 10m air rifle shooting SH1 title.

Both Harvinder Singh and Preeti Pal’s exemplary performances not only reflect their personal achievements but also highlight the growing recognition and support for para-athletes in India. Their roles as flag-bearers at the closing ceremony serve as a tribute to their extraordinary journeys and the perseverance exhibited by all para-athletes worldwide.

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